Folding support base for table top



Sept. 1, 1959 F. D. KIND-BLOCK ET V 2,902,325

FOLDING SUPPORT BASE FOR TABLE TOP Filed Aug. 24, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 1INVENTORS v Fesosemz D. KNOBLQCK & Awe-er C K0517 ATTORNEYS.

Sept. 1, 1959 F. D. KNOBLOCK EI' 2,

FOLDING SUPPORT BASE FOR TABLE TOP I Filed Aug. 24, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet2 Fla. /0

INVENTORS Fesose/cx D. Kvoeaock 3 ALBERT C. KoE-r-r A TTOPNEYS Sept. 1,1959 F. D. KNOBLOCK T 2,902,325

FOLDING, SUPPORT BASE FOR TABLE TOP Filed Aug. 24. 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 3INVENTORS FQEoER/cK 0 Kvoawcz & ALBERT C. (our I ATmRNEYJ.

"used in multiple for gaming purposes.

Patented Sept. 1, 1959 FOLDING SUPPORT BASE FOR TABLE TOP Frederick D.'Knoblock, Bloomfield Hills, and Albert C. Koett, Birmingham, Micl1.,assignors to Auto Glass Manufacturing Co., Detroit, Mich, a corporationof Michigan Application August 24, 1955, Serial No. 530,229 6 Claims.(Cl. 311-37) This invention relates to a folding table structure whichcan be folded into flat compact form, for storage or when otherwise notin use, and which can be unfolded or erected with ease and facility.

The object of the invention is to provide a folding table structure ofhighutility and one which embodies a minimum number of relativelymovable parts. In accordance with the invention the table frame ispreferably of metal, and conveniently metal tubing, so constructed andarranged that the side portions thereof are pivotally movable withrespect to a relatively fixed portion. The table of this invention isarranged and designed so that it may 'be put to many uses'such, forexample, as a table for supporting foodstuffs, when one is, for example,viewing television; as a support for a reading lamp, as an end table, asa Wriitng table, as a bedstand; it is particularly adaptable for use outof doors on a lawn, porch or patio.

The table top is preferably a separate unit and is preferably made ofglass, plastic or metal and may be used as a tray. The top is soconstructed and provided with a rim or molding so that a plurality oftable tops may be "conveniently stacked.

In accordance with the invention the structure of the table is such thatit is relatively of openconstruction in that there are no interferingsupports or legs at two of the corners. With this construction the tablemay be pulled up very close to a chair so that the table top overlies aportion of the chair and the legs of the occupant.

This makes the table particularly convenient as a writing table or forsupporting food snacks. The tables may be Its structure is suchthat itfits intothe decoration of'a household whet her H thesame'be modern orperiod.

The-invention is disclosed in the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an erected table illustratingthe fewparts thereof, thetop not'bein'g shown.

Fig. 2. is an elevational view'ofa corner looking in the direction ofthe arrow 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3is a view of another corner looking in thedirection of the arrow 3'0fFig. 1. V

Fig. 4 is a detailed view illustrating ahinge'struct-ure.

Fig; 5 is across sectional view takenonline55'of 'Fi'g. l'illustrating asupportstructure.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 illustrating the folded position ofasupporting strut member.

'Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the table frame in folded condition.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the table illustrating one manner of useand showingthe table top applied thereto.

table.

Fig. 14 is a view illustrating part of the frame structure of the formshown in Fig. 13.

Fig. 15 is a sectional view taken on line 1515 of Fig. 14.

Fig. 16 is a detailed view in section taken on line 16-16 of Fig. 13. vv

The table structure shown in Fig. 1 comprises basically three elements.One element may be termed the relatively fixed element and it is formedof a single length of material, preferably metal tube. It has a leg 1and a leg 2 which stand vertically when the table is erected. Thismember is generally of inverted U shape having a bight portion or crosspiece 4 connected to the legs 1 and 2 by bends 5 and 6. The lower endsof the legs '1 and .2 which are to engage the floor or other support arepreferably fashioned to extend outwardly at an angle as indicated at 8and 9.

The other two members of the structure are similar to each other. Onemember is formed of a single length of material, preferably metaltubing, and is generally of U shape having a lower arm 11 positionedhorizontally when the table is erected for resting upon the floor, andan upper arm 12. The arm 11 is preferably longer than the arm 12 to lendstability. The arms 11 and 12 are connected to a cross piece orbightportion 14 by bends 15 and 16. The bends 15 and 16 are preferablythrough 90 or close thereto, so that when erected, the bight portion 14is vertical and the arms 11 and '12 are horizontal. Similarly the bends5 and 6 are through substantially 90. The opposite side member, asstated above, is of similar construction or even identical, and so thesame reference characters are applied to like parts with the addition ofthe letter a to each-reference character.

The veritcal legs 1 and 2 are hinged respectively to the portions 14 and14a of the side elements. As shown in Fig. 4 the hinges may be ofsimpleconstruction. One member thereof, as shown at 21, is of angularform and is secured to the part 14 while the other element 22 is securedto the member 1. Their projecting parts 24and 25 overlap and arepivotally connected as by means of a rivet or hinge pin 23.

The position of the hinge pin 23 is such that when in folded position,as shown in Fig. 3, the arm 12 lies substantially flush against thecross piece 4, the arm 11 in alignment therewith and the vertical bight14 in close proximity to the vertical leg 1, as shown in Fig. 3. Thehinges between the parts 2 and 14:: are essentially the same except thatthe projecting parts 24a and 251; are longer, thus positioning the pivotpin 23 at a distance from the vertical leg 2 (Fig. 2). Thus inopen'position, as shown in Fig. 2, the arm 14a lies substantiallyagainst the leg'2, while in folded position the arm 12a is spaced Fig. 9is a sectional View taken'on line 9 9 of Fig. I

from the cross piece 4. This spacing is such as to'accommodate the arm.12 so that the entire structure folds flat as shown in Fig. 7.

To hold the side elements spaced apart and the table frameerecte'd asimple sing'le'stmt 36 is provided. This may be a tube which may beinserted in apertures 31 and 32'of'thearms 12 and 12a (Fig. 5) and thismay be accomplished by slightly springing the arms apart so'that whenreleased'the strut 30 is under compression. One arm, such as the arm12a, may have apertures 33 and 34 and the strut may have an enlargedportion 35. To fold the frame the strut is removed by 'flexing the arms12 and 12a apart and then the strut may simply be dropped through'theapertures '33 and 34"so that it-hangs freely within the boundary of'theframe asindicat'ediin' 3 Figs. 6 and 7, as portion 35 cannot passthrough holes 33 and 34.

The table structure may be employed for holding relatively heavy objectssuch as a table'model radio-or a table model television receiving setwith or without the use of table top. It may also be used to support anyone or more of other objects, such as plants, decorative objects, booksor the like. To lend additional strength to the structure when it is tobe so used, supporting struts 65 (Fig. 12) may be employed to supportthe arms 12 and 12a. For this purpose, the lower arms 11a are providedwith apertures 66 through the upper-wall thereof and the upper arms 12and 12a are provided with similar apertures 57 in their lower wall. Thestrut members 65 may be positioned by slightly flexing the upper andlower arms apart and inserting the ends of the strut members through theapertures as and 67. These strut members may be and preferably are ofmetal tubing. The strut members obviously may be employed at the optionof the user at any time and for any purpose.

The table top is preferably a planar body of material such as glass,plastic or metal as shown at 40. As indicated in Fig. 9 the top may beof safety glass which comprises two glass sheets with an interveninglayer of bonding plastic. The top is preferably of rectangular form suchas to nicely fit upon the supporting frame and it has an edging ormolding preferably of suitable plastic or metal material. This molding,as shown in Fig. 9, is of general U shape having spaced parts 41 and 42for receiving the edge of the panel, a depending flange 43, and anupstanding flange 44. When the top is in place upon the frame the flange43 embraces the side of the frame member 4, sides of the arms 12 and12a, as well also as the ends of the legs 12 and 12a, thus holding thetop in position. A plurality of tops may be stacked as shown in Fig. 11.The flange 44 lends some depth to the surface of the table top and beingpositioned inwardly from the extreme edge of the molding locates theflange 43 of the next above table top when in stacked relation. The topis also a tray, and snacks can be placed thereon and carried to a tablefor receiving the tray.

Preferably means for gripping the tops is provided by the simpleexpedient of discontinuing or interrupting the molding at opposite sidesor ends as indicated at 45 thus leaving the exposed edges of the glassor plastic panel. Accordingly, the exposed edge can be gripped with thethumb and fingers with facility or lifted from or placed upon the frame.Also when the tops are stacked as shown in Fig. 11 one or more may belifted from the stack by inserting the fingers in the space at thediscontinuance of the flange 43.

One of the many uses is illustrated in Fig. 8, where it will be seenthat the table can be drawn up close to a chair, which is indicated at50, with the table top overlapping the seat portion of the chair andalso overlapping the legs of an occupant of a chair. This is becausethere are no legs on the frame at two of the corners which may bevisualized as the two corners opposite the corners provided by thevertical frame elements 1-14 and 214a. The arms 11 and 11a may bepositioned to project under the chair. In fact, the table top issupported cantilever fashion by the arms 12 and 12a, and the verticalpart or supporting legs of the table lies substantially in a singleplane extending downwardly from one edge of the table top. As statedabove, the arms 11 and 11a which engage the floor, or other support, arepreferably longer than the arms 12 and 12a to add to the stability. Theangular floor engaging parts 8 and 9 extend from the said single planein a direction opposite the extent of the arms ll and He thus providingstability to keep the table from tipping in a direction which would beaway from the chair as Fig. 8 is viewed.

It will be apparent how convenient such a table is for various purposes,such as holding food snacks or the like,

or for writing. Considering that the front of the table is near thechair as shown in Fig. 8, and that the back of the table is in the planeof the vertical supporting elements, it will be appreciated how twotables may be placed back to back. Several groups of pairs of tables,each pair being placed back to back, may be located side by side toincrease the overall dimensions of the tops for playing games or thelike. The table may be brought into close proximity or into overlappingproximity to other articles of furniture, such as a bed or a davenportwhere the table is used for such purposes.

A modified form is shown in Fig. 13. This is a small table which may beused, for example, by a child or may be used as a support for food orthe like for a person confined to a bed. The frame is made of twogenerally U-shaped members. One has an arm 51 and an arm 52 connected bya bight portion 53. The other member has an arm 51a and an arm 52aconnected by a bight portion 53a. The structure, as shown in Fig. 13, isnot collapsible and the two frame members may be permanently connectedby cross elements 55 and 56. The cross elements may be of tubular formreceived in apertures 57 of the arms 52 and 52a (Fig. 15), and securedby a screw 58 or the like. To further lend stability to the structure,angular struts 60 may be connected, one to each bight portion 53, at 61as by means of welding or the like. These struts may be of sheet metalpreferably of arcuate form in cross section, as shown in Fig. 15, andeach provided with a formed foot 62. The same table top may be used withthis supporting structure and it is indicated in dotted lines in bothFigs. 12 and 14.

In the claims appended hereto terms are used in describing the elementssuch as, horizontal or horizontally, vertical and vertically, upper andlower. These are used as words of description to make clear the elementsreferred to and are not to be construed as words of limitation.

We claim:

1. A folding table structure adapted to receive and hold a table topcomprising, a main frame member having two substantially vertical legportions and a connecting cross portion at the top thereof, two side,members, each side member having a lower arm for resting horizontally ona floor, an upper arm substantially parallel to the lower arm andsubstantially in the plane of the cross portion of the main framemember, the arms of each side member being connected by verticallyextending portions, said vertically extending portions being disposedrespectively in close proximity to and parallel to the two legs of themain frame member, means pivotally connecting said vertical portions ofthe side members respectively to the two legs of the main frame member,and struts adapted to be detachably interposed between the upper arm andthe lower arm of each side member adjacent the outer ends of the arms tosupport the upper arms.

2. A folding table structure adapted to receive a table top comprising,a main frame member comprised of a single length of material of invertedU shape with the legs of the U constituting legs of the table and withthe bight portion of the U constituting a cross member, two side memberseach comprised of a length of material of U shape positionedhorizontally so that one arm of each is a floor engaging member, theother arm of each is a top member, the bight portion of each side memberbeing positioned adjacent and parallel to one of the legs of the framemember, and means pivotally connecting the respective legs of the framemember to respective bight portions of the side members so that the sidemembers may be folded into overlapping relationship with respect to eachother and to the main frame member and may be unfolded to a position sothat the arms thereof extend laterally from the main frame member, andstruts adapted to be detachably positioned to extend between the upperand lower arms of each side member near the ends of the arms to supportthe upper arms.

3. A table structure comprising, two side members each of a singlelength of elongated tubing and each of U shape, each member beingpositioned horizontally so that the lower arm is adapted to rest upon afloor or the like, and the upper arm is adapted to support an objectthereon, said members being spaced apart with their bight portionsextending upwardly, means connecting the two side members, each upper amhaving an aperture in the under side of its wall near its free end, eachlower arm having an aperture in the upper side of its wall near its freeend, and a strut for each side member adapted to have its end portionspositioned in the apertures of the upper and lower arms of each sidemember to support the upper arms.

4. A folding support base adapted to receive and support a table topcomprisnig a main support frame of inverted U-shape having a pair ofupright legs connected at their upper ends by a substantially straightcross member, a pair of secondary U-shaped frames each having a pair ofgenerally straight legs connected by a gen erally straight cross member,the cross members of the secondary frames extending generally verticallyalongside the upright legs of the main frame and pivotally connectedthereto, the legs of each secondary frame being disposed one above theother and generally perpendicular to the cross member of the secondaryframe, the upper legs of the secondary frames and the cross member ofthe main frame lying in a common horizontal plane, the lower legs of thesecondary frames and the lower ends of the upright legs of the mainframe also lying in a common horizontal plane and adapted to rest upon asupporting floor whereby when the secondary frames are pivoted intoparallel planes perpendicular to the plane of the main frame, a tabletop may be solidly supported on the upper legs of the secondary framesand the cross member of the main frame and the load imposed upon saidtable top is supported in part by the secondary frames and in part bythe floor engaging lower ends of the upright legs of the main frame andthe cross member of the main frame.

5. A folding support base as called for in claim 4 including hingemembers pivotally connecting each secondary frame with one upright legof the main frame, the pintles of the hinge members for one of thesecondary frames being spaced from the axis of the upright leg on whichthey are mounted such that said one frame is adapted to be folded fiatagainst one face of the main frame and the pintles of the hinges on theother secondary frame being spaced more remotely from the axis of theupright leg to which they are connected to permit the last mentionedframe to be folded fiat against the face of the other folded secondaryframe whereby to provide a compact folded structure.

6. A folding support base as called for in claim 5 wherein the lowerends of the upright legs of the main frame are curved outwardly in adirection opposite to the direction in which the lower legs of thesecondary frames extend in the operative position of said support base.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS724,492 Palmer Apr. 7, 1903 995,114 Clark et al. June 13, 1911 1,544,935Preston July 7, 1925 1,870,174 Calton Aug. 2, 1932. 1,963,594 SchwabeJune 19, 1934 1,976,031 Lowenberg Oct. 9, 1934 2,001,438 Stuck May 14,1935 2,229,411 Hughes Jan. 21, 1941 2,299,909 Linderme Oct. 27, 19422,500,542 Greene Mar. 14, 1950 2,591,797 Exline et al. Apr. 8, 19522,597,166 Murray May 20, 1952 2,643,927 Molla June 30, 1953 2,666,681Adler Jan. 19, 1954 2,692,175 Jacques Oct. 19, 1954 2,762,669 WatsonSept. 11, 1956

